Vehicle sun roof apparatus

ABSTRACT

Provided is a vehicle sun roof apparatus comprising: a movable panel configured to open and close an opening section, a guide rail provided at an edge portion of the opening section in the vehicle width direction, a sliding member linked to an edge portion of the movable panel in the vehicle width direction and provided along the guide rail so as to be movable in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, a check mechanism configured to release a movement lock of the movable panel by locking the movement of the movable panel, and an engagement and disengagement switching mechanism provided with a first member supported by either the sliding member or the edge portion of the movable panel in the vehicle width direction.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 toJapanese Patent Application 2012-53300, filed on Mar. 9, 2012, theentire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a vehicle sun roof apparatus,

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

In the related art, for example, a vehicle sun roof apparatus asdisclosed in JP 2000-108676A (Reference 1) (a so-called outer slide sunroof) is known. In this apparatus, a link mechanism configured tosupport a movable panel includes a rear lift link configured to performthe swinging motion by a sliding motion of a first shoe, a front liftlink configured to perform a swinging motion by a sliding motion of asecond shoe, and a connecting rod configured to couple the rear liftlink and the second shoe and cause the second shoe to perform a slidingmotion by the swinging motion of the rear lift link. When the first shoeis caused to perform the sliding motion, the rear lift link performs aswinging motion and lifts a rear end of the movable panel, and in thisprocess, the swinging motion of the rear lift link is transmitted to thesecond shoe via the connecting rod. By the sliding motion of the secondshoe in association therewith, the front lift link is caused to performthe swinging motion so as to lift a front end of the movable panel. Withthe operation as described above, the movable panel is tilted up.

Subsequently, by causing the first shoe and the second shoe to slide,the movable panel slides outward in a state of being tilted up andbrings an opening section formed in a roof panel into an opened state.In this case, since the rear lift link is brought into the swingingmotion by the effect of an engagement structure set between the rearlift link and the first shoe, a tilt-up motion of the movable panel maybe performed slowly by the setting of the engagement structure.

In the vehicle sun roof apparatus of JP 2000-108676A, the amount ofmovement (operation stroke) of the first shoe or the like required untilthe movable panel reaches the fully-opened state from the fully-closedstate corresponds to the amount of movement of the first shoe or thelike from the fully-closed state→tilt-up state→fully-opened state.Therefore, when the amount of movement of the first shoe or the likeuntil the movable panel moves from the fully-closed state to the tilt-upstate (hereinafter, referred to also as “tilt operation stroke”)increases, securement of the amount of movement of the first shoe or thelike until the movable panel moves to the fully-opened state, that is,the amount of opening of the movable panel becomes difficult.

In contrast, since the tilt operation stroke corresponds to a segment ofa high-load state during which the movable panel moves upward anddownward, it is preferable to secure the tilt operation stroke as longas possible. When it is assumed that the tilt operation stroke isreduced, a load per unit operation stroke increases, and the size of anelectric power source (motor or the like) for driving the first shoe orthe like needs to be increased correspondingly.

In the vehicle sun roof apparatus (outer slide sun roof) disclosed inJapanese Patent No. 4109583 (Reference 2), a guide rail projectingtoward the front so that the guide rail that allows a shoe to slidetherein penetrates through a front frame (housing) is proposed.Accordingly, for example, a supporting span of the movable panel may bewidened while increasing the amount of opening of the movable panel, orwithout impairing the amount of opening of the movable panel.

However, an effect of increase of the amount of opening of the movablepanel by providing the guide rail so as to penetrate through the frontframe is insignificant, and the securement of the amount of opening isstill difficult.

A need thus exists for a vehicle sun roof apparatus which is notsusceptible to the drawback mentioned above.

SUMMARY

In order to solve the above-described problem, according to an aspect ofthis disclosure, there is provided a vehicle sun roof apparatusincluding:

a movable panel configured to open and close an opening section formedin a roof portion of a vehicle;

a guide rail provided at an edge portion of the opening section in thevehicle width direction and extending in the fore-and-aft direction ofthe vehicle;

a sliding member linked to an edge portion of the movable panel in thevehicle width direction, provided along the guide rail so as to bemovable in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and driven to bemoved by an electric drive source;

a check mechanism configured to release a movement lock of the movablepanel by locking the movement of the movable panel and transferring themovable panel to a tilt-up state by moving a rear portion upward about asupporting point at a front portion of the movable panel when thesliding member moves forward of the vehicle in a fully-closed state ofthe movable panel, and maintaining the tilt-up state when the slidingmember moves further forward of the vehicle and then moves rearward ofthe vehicle in the tilt-up state; and

an engagement and disengagement switching mechanism provided with afirst member supported by either the sliding member or the edge portionof the movable panel in the vehicle width direction, and a second membersupported by the other one of the sliding member and the edge portion ofthe movable panel in the vehicle width direction, and configured toengage the first member and the second member by pressing either one ofthe first member and the second member by the other one of the firstmember and the second member so that the movable panel moves integrallywhen the sliding member moves rearward of the vehicle thereafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of thisdisclosure will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription considered with the reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are plan view and a side view illustrating an embodimentdisclosed here;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are side views illustrating a fully-closed state and asecond tilt-up state of a movable panel;

FIGS. 3A to 3C are cross-sectional views taken along the linesIIIA-IIIA, IIIB-IIIB, and IIIC-IIIC in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an engagement anddisengagement switching mechanism;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory drawing illustrating an operation of theengagement and disengagement switching mechanism by deploying theengagement and disengagement switching mechanism in the circumferentialdirection;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG.1A; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a roof viewed from obliquelyabove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment disclosed here will be explained with reference to FIG. 1to FIG. 8.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, a roof 10 as a roof portion of a vehicle suchas an automotive vehicle is formed with a substantially square roofopening 10 a as an opening section, and includes a sun roof apparatus 11configured to support a substantially square movable panel 12 formed of,for example, glass mounted thereon.

The movable panel 12 is mounted so as to be capable of performing atilt-up motion rising a rear portion about a supporting point at a frontportion thereof and a sliding motion in the fore-and-aft direction ofthe vehicle. In the opening and closing operation of the roof opening 10a by the movable panel 12, a system of sliding in a tilt-up state,so-called an outer sliding system is employed.

Subsequently, the structure of the sun roof apparatus 11 relating to theopening and closing operation of the movable panel 12 will be described.The sun roof apparatus 11 includes basically a pair of structuresrelating to the opening and closing operation of the movable panel 12 onboth sides of the roof opening 10 a in the vehicle width direction, andonly the structure on one side in the vehicle width direction will bedescribed in the following description.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a guide rail 14 having asubstantially constant cross section formed of an extruded material suchas aluminum alloy extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicleat an edge in the vehicle width direction of the roof opening 10 a. Theguide rail 14 is formed with a first rail portion 15 having asubstantially C-shaped cross section opening upward of the vehicle asillustrated in FIGS. 3A to 30, and is formed with a second rail portion16 adjacent to the first rail portion 15 outside in the vehicle widthdirection. The second rail portion 16 has a substantially T-shape incross section in cooperation with a side wall of the first rail portion15, and communicates with the first rail portion 15 at an opening formedon the side wall.

The guide rail 14 is further formed with a flange-shaped first guideportion 17 on an upper side of the outside portion of the first railportion 15 in the vehicle width direction, and is formed with aflange-shaped second guide portion 18 on an upper side of the secondrail portion 16.

The first guide portion 17 is formed with a notched portion 17 a at apredetermined position rather on the front side in the fore-and-aftdirection of the vehicle as illustrated in FIG. 7. Then, the guide rail14 includes a check block 19 placed on the outside portion of the firstrail portion 15 in the vehicle width direction, fitted to the firstguide portion 17 through the notched portion 17 a, and formed of, forexample, a resin material fixed thereto. The check block 19 is formedinto a hook shape having an engaging groove 19 a communicating from topto bottom of the first guide portion 17 on the rear side of the vehicle.The engaging groove 19 a is inclined so as to extend downward as it goesrearward of the vehicle, and communicates with a portion below the firstguide portion 17 at a lower end thereof.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a drive shoe 21 as a sliding memberformed by integrating a metallic plate and a resin, for example, ismounted on the first rail portion 15 of the guide rail 14 so as to bemovable in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. In other words,the drive shoe 21 includes three shoe portions 22 a, 22 b, and 22 csliding inside of the first rail portion 15 in the vehicle widthdirection (the lower side in FIG. 1A) arranged in a line in thefore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and four shoe portions 22 d, 22e, 22 f, and 22 g sliding outside of the first rail portion 15 in thevehicle width direction (the upper side in FIG. 1A) arranged in a linein the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. The drive shoe 21 alsoincludes a vertical wall portion 23 provided upright at an intermediateportion of the first rail portion 15 rather on the inside of the vehiclewidth direction and configured to connect the shoe portions 22 a to 22 cso as to extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and asubstantially elongated continuous wall portion 24 configured to connectthe shoe portions 22 d to 22 g on the outside portion of the first railportion 15 in the vehicle width direction so as to extend in thefore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. The drive shoe 21 furtherincludes four communicating portions 25 a, 25 b, 25 c, and 25 dconnecting the vertical wall portion 23 and the continuous wall portion24 in the width direction arranged in a line in the fore-and-aftdirection of the vehicle.

The communicating portions 25 a and 25 d include extending strips 29 aand 29 b penetrating through the shoe portions 22 e and 22 g andentering the second rail portion 16 on the outside in the vehicle widthdirection, respectively. The extending strips 29 a and 29 b are coupledto be driven by an electric drive source (not illustrated), such as anelectric motor via a band-shaped drive belt (not illustrated) sliding onthe second rail portion 16 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.Therefore, the drive shoe 21 moves in the fore-and-aft direction of thevehicle by the drive belt driven by the electric drive source to move inthe fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle along the guide rail 14 (thesecond rail portion 16) while causing the shoe portions 22 a to 22 c andthe shoe portions 22 d to 22 g to slide along the inside and the outsideof the first rail portion 15 in the vehicle width direction,respectively.

The drive shoe 21 includes a substantially rib-shaped first projectingportion 26 a extending across the front side both communicating portions25 a and 25 b to a front end of the continuous wall portion 24 in thefore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and a substantially rib-shapedsecond projecting portion 26 b extending across the rear side bothcommunicating portions 25 c and 25 d to a rear end of the continuouswall portion 24 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. The firstand second projecting portions 26 a and 26 b are arranged on the sameline in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle in the intermediateportion of the first rail portion 15 rather on the outside of the firstrail portion 15 in the vehicle width direction. The first projectingportion 26 a projects rearward of the communicating portion 25 b towardthe second projecting portion 26 b. However, a gap 27 is set between thefirst and second projecting portions 26 a and 26 b in the fore-and-aftdirection of the vehicle. A substantially rib-shaped restricting portion28 extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle is formed inbetween the both communicating portions 25 c and 25 d in parallelthereto on the inside of the second projecting portion 26 b in thevehicle width direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the vertical wall portion 23 is formed with aguide groove 30 opening in the vehicle width direction and extending inthe fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. The guide groove 30 includesa first inclined portion 30 a inclining so as to extend upward as itgoes rearward and a straight line portion 30 b extending approximatelyparallel to the guide rail 14 so as to continue from a rear end of thefirst inclined portion 30 a and, in addition, includes a second inclinedportion 30 c extending continuously from a rear end of the straight lineportion 30 b so as to extend upward as it goes rearward.

The drive shoe 21 includes a substantially U-shaped holding groove 61opening rearward of the vehicle at a rear end portion of the verticalwall portion 23. The holding groove 61 is inclined so as to extendupward as the upper portion on the opening end side goes rearward,thereby forming a guiding portion 61 a.

In contrast, a supporting bracket 31 formed of, for example, a metallicplate extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle is securedon an edge portion of a lower surface of the movable panel 12 in thevehicle width direction. The supporting bracket 31 extends over thesubstantially entire length of the movable panel 12 and includes aplate-shaped vertical wall portion 32 pending downward of the movablepanel 12. The vertical wall portion 32 is provided on the outside of thevertical wall portion 23 in the vehicle width direction so as to besandwiched between the vertical wall portion 23 and the first projectingportion 26 a of the drive shoe 21 in parallel thereto in the vehiclewidth direction. Then, a front end of the vertical wall portion 32 isrotatably coupled to a driven shoe 33 formed of a resin about an axialline extending in the vehicle width direction. The driven shoe 33 ismounted on the first rail portion 15 of the guide rail 14 on the frontside of the drive shoe 21 (the shoe portions 22 a to 22 c) so as to bemovable in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. The movable panel12 supported by the supporting bracket 31 performs a tilt up motion byrising the rear portion about a supporting point at the front portionwhere the vertical wall portion 32 is coupled to the driven shoe 33, andperforms a tilt-down motion by lowering the rear portion about asupporting point at the front portion.

A substantially column-shaped elevating guide pin 34 projecting inwardin the vehicle width direction and formed of a metallic material to befitted into the guide groove 30 so as to be movable is secured at afront end portion of the supporting bracket 31 (the vertical wallportion 32).

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the elevating guide pin 34 is set to bearranged at a lower end of the guide groove 30 (the first inclinedportion 30 a) when the movable panel 12 is fully closed. Therefore, whenthe drive shoe 21 moves toward the front of the vehicle along the guiderail 14 (the first rail portion 15) in this state, the elevating guidepin 34 guided by the guide groove 30 moves up along the first inclinedportion 30 a and reaches the straight line portion 30 b. At this time,the movable panel 12 rotates about a supporting point at the frontportion of the supporting bracket 31 in conjunction with the upwardmovement of the supporting bracket 31 (the elevating guide pin 34) withrespect to the drive shoe 21, so that the tilt-up motion in which therear portion moves upward is performed (a first tilt-up state).

Subsequently, when the drive shoe 21 further moves toward the front ofthe vehicle along the guide rail 14 (the first rail portion 15), asillustrated in FIG. 2B, the elevating guide pin 34 guided by the guidegroove 30 moves up along the second inclined portion 30 c and reaches aterminal end thereof. At this time, the movable panel 12 further rotatesabout a supporting point at the front portion of the supporting bracket31 in conjunction with the upward movement of the supporting bracket 31(the elevating guide pin 34) with respect to the drive shoe 21, so thatthe tilt-up motion in which the rear portion further moves upward isperformed (a second tilt-up state).

In contrast, when the drive shoe 21 moves from the tilt-up state (thefirst or second tilt-up state) of the movable panel 12 to rearward ofthe vehicle, the operation in the substantially reverse process isperformed.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, a substantially column-shaped locking pin 35formed of a metallic material projecting inward in the vehicle widthdirection is secured at the front end portion, which is the front sideof the elevating guide pin 34 of the supporting bracket 31 (the verticalwall portion 32). A substantially column-shaped holding pin 62 formed ofa metallic material projecting inward in the vehicle width direction issecured at a rear end portion, which is the rear side of the elevatingguide pin 34 of the supporting bracket 31 (the vertical wall portion32). The holding pin 62 is locked into the holding groove 61 asillustrated also in FIG. 6 when the movable panel 12 is in thefully-closed state. It is for suppressing uplift of the movable panel 12when the movable panel 12 is in the fully-closed state, or forintroducing the movable panel 12 smoothly into the fully-closed statewhen the movable panel 12 is in the course of being transferred to thefully-closed state.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, a slide check 41 as a second sliding memberformed of, for example, a resin material is arranged on and supported bythe first projecting portion 26 a of the drive shoe 21. In other words,as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the slide check 41 includes a substantiallyrib-shaped guide portion 42 configured to project downward so as to abutagainst an outside surface of the first projecting portion 26 a in thevehicle width direction and placed on the drive shoe 21 between theslide check 41 and the continuous wall portion 24, and includes afitting portion 43 fitted to the second guide portion 18 of the guiderail 14 so as to be slidable in the fore-and-aft direction of thevehicle. As illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the slide check 41 abutsagainst the inside surface of the first guide portion 17 of the guiderail 14 in the vehicle width direction. The slide check 41 is movablealong the guide rail 14 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle bybringing the guide portion 42 into sliding contact with the outsidesurface of the first projecting portion 26 a in the vehicle widthdirection on the drive shoe 21 and sliding the fitting portion 43 on thesecond guide portion 18.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, an elongated allowing hole 44 intowhich the locking pin 35 is fitted no as to be movable is formed at afront end portion of the slide check 41. The allowing hole 44 isinclined linearly so as to extend upward as it goes rearward of thevehicle. In other words, the slide check 41 is coupled to the supportingbracket 31 via the locking pin 35 to be fitted into the allowing hole44. The slide check 41 maintains the above-described state on the driveshoe 21 by allowing the locking pin 35 to run freely in the allowinghole 44 when the movable panel 12 supported by the supporting bracket 31performs the tilt-up motion (or the tilt-down motion). In other words,the slide check 41 allows the movable panel 12 to be transferred to thetilt-up state (or the fully-closed state) in association with themovement of the drive shoe 21 in the fore-and-aft direction of thevehicle by allowing the locking pin 35 to run freely in the allowinghole 44. The slide check 41 locks the movement of the locking pin 35(the supporting bracket 31) in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicleby the allowing hole 44 when a tilting motion of the movable panel 12 isrestricted. Therefore, the slide check 41 moves in the fore-and-aftdirection of the vehicle to cause the movable panel 12 supported by thesupporting bracket 31 to move integrally (the sliding motion) therewithin the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

A substantially column-shaped supporting shaft 45 having a centerlineextending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle penetratesthrough the slide check 41 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.The supporting shaft 45 is fastened to the slide check 41 so as not tobe capable of rotating. A substantially disc-shaped rotation check 46 isaxially supported at a rear end portion of the supporting shaft 45penetrating through the slide check 41 so as to be adjacent to the slidecheck 41. Therefore, the axial line of the rotation check 46 coincideswith the centerline of the supporting shaft 45. As illustrated in FIG.3C, the rotation check 46 includes a substantially triangularclaw-shaped engaging projection 46 a projecting radially outward at apredetermined angular position (the angular position facing rightward inthe drawing) about the supporting shaft 45, and includes a substantiallyrectangular-shaped pressed portion 46 b projecting radially outward at apredetermined angular position (the angular position facing downward inthe drawing) about the supporting shaft 45. For example, in thefully-closed state of the movable panel 12, the engaging projection 46 aof the rotation check 46 is locked into the engaging groove 19 a of thecheck block 19, and the pressed portion 46 b thereof abuts against theoutside surface of the first projecting portion 26 a in the vehiclewidth direction. Therefore, in the fully-closed state of the movablepanel 12, the rotation check 46 is locked so as not to rotate by thefirst projecting portion 26 a or the like in a state in which theengaging projection 46 a is locked into the engaging groove 19 a of thecheck block 19. Accordingly, the movement of the rotation check 46 inthe fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle is locked and the movement inthe fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle of the slide check 41 islocked together with the rotation check 46. Since the movement of thesupporting bracket 31 coupled to the slide check 41 via the allowinghole 44 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle is also locked, themovable panel 12 is only allowed to be transferred from the fully-closedstate to the tilt-up state. The check block 19, the slide check 41, andthe rotation check 46 constitute a check mechanism 40.

As described above, the gap 27 is set between the first and secondprojecting portions 26 a and 26 b. Therefore, when the first projectingportion 26 a passes through the pressed portion 46 b in association withthe movement of the drive shoe 21 forward of the vehicle, the rotationcheck 46 is allowed to rotate in the gap 27. Therefore, in this state,when the rotation check 46 moves rearward of the vehicle together withthe drive shoe 21, the rotation check 46 rotates clockwise as theengaging projection 46 a is guided to the engaging groove 19 a asillustrated in a double-dashed chain line in FIG. 3C. The engagingprojection 46 a enters below the first guide portion 17. Accordingly,the rotation of the rotation check 46 is locked. At the same time, thepressed portion 46 b passes through the position of the first projectingportion 26 a and is arranged inside of the first projecting portion 26 ain the vehicle width direction. At this time, the pressed portion 46 bis arranged on a movement locus of the restricting portion 28 of thedrive shoe 21 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a rotating cam 48 as a second memberis rotatably coupled to the rear end portion of the supporting shaft 45penetrating through the slide check 41 via a coil spring 47 wound aroundthe supporting shaft 45. Therefore, the axial line of the rotating cam48 (a second axial line) coincides with the centerline of the supportingshaft 45. In other words, the rotating cam 48 is arranged coaxially withthe rotation check 46. As illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the rotatingcam 48 includes a pair of second cam teeth 48 a having a substantiallyisosceles trapezoidal shape having a long side and a short sideextending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. The second camteeth 48 a are arranged so as to face in the radial direction having acenter at the axial line of the rotating cam 48. The respective secondcam teeth 48 a extend within a range of an angle (45° in thisembodiment) smaller than a predetermined angle (90° in this embodiment)in the circumference direction having a center at the axial line of therotating cam 48.

In contrast, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, a fixed cam 51 as a first memberformed of, for example, a resin material, is arranged on and supportedby the second projecting portion 26 b of the drive shoe 21. The fixedcam 51 is at a distance from the rotating cam 48 at a position of thedrive shoe 21 which corresponds to a case where the movable panel 12 istransferred at least from the fully-closed state to the first tilt-upstate. The fixed cam 51 is overlapped with the rotating cam 48 inposition in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle at the position ofthe drive shoe 21 which corresponds to the case where the movable panel12 is transferred to the second tilt-up state as illustrated in FIG. 2B.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the fixed cam 51 includes a substantiallybottomed cylindrical-shaped first fixed-side member 52 arranged on theside apart from the slide check 41. As illustrated in FIG. 5, aplurality of substantially triangle teeth-shaped first cam teeth 52 adisposed at intervals of the predetermined angle (90°) about the axialline thereof and projecting and being depressed in the direction of theaxial line are formed at a front end portion (an opening end portion) ofthe first fixed-side member 52.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the fixed cam 51 includes a substantiallybottomed cylindrical-shaped second fixed-side member 53 arranged on theside in the vicinity of the slide check 41. A pair of opened portions 53a communicating along the direction of the axial line thereof are formedon an inner peripheral portion of the second fixed-side member 53 so asto face in the radial direction. As illustrated in FIG. 5, rear endportions of each of the opened portion 53 a on the upper side in thedrawing forms a guide portion 53 b inclined so as to be widenedgradually as it goes to a rear end. The opened portion 53 acommunicating over the entire length of the second fixed-side member 53in the direction of the axial line extends within a range of the sameangle (45°) as the first cam teeth 52 a in the circumferential directionabout the axial line of the fixed cam 51, and the opened portion 53 aincluding the guide portion 53 b extends within the range of thepredetermined angle (90°) in the circumferential direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a pair of locking portions 53 c inclinedtoward the front of the vehicle as they go from the opened portions 53 atoward the guide portions 53 b between the both opened portions 53 a inthe circumferential direction are formed at a rear end portion (anopening end portion) of the second fixed-side member 53. The respectivelocking portions 53 c extend within the range of the predetermined angle(90°) in the circumferential direction about the axial line of the fixedcam 51. Both apexes at which the first cam teeth 52 a change thedirection of extension in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle facethe respective locking portions 53 c in the fore-and-aft direction ofthe vehicle in the intermediate portion thereof in the circumferentialdirection. In other words, a phase difference of a predetermined anglesmaller than the predetermined angle (90°) is set between the bothapexes of the locking portions 53 c at which the direction of extensionin the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle changes and the both apexesof the first cam teeth 52 a at which the direction of extension in thefore-and-aft direction of the vehicle changes.

In such a configuration, in a state in which the rotating cam 48 (theslide check 41) and the fixed cam 51 are apart from each other in thefore-and-aft direction of the vehicle (for example, until the movablepanel 12 is transferred from the fully-closed state to the first tilt-upstate), the angular positions of the second cam teeth 48 a are urged andmaintained by the coil spring 47 so as to coincide with the angularpositions of the opened portions 53 a. Therefore, when the fixed cam 51moves forward of the vehicle together with the drive shoe 21 so as totransfer the movable panel 12 to the second tilt-up state, asillustrated in FIG. 5, the second cam teeth 48 a pass through the openedportions 53 a and are pressed by the first cam teeth 52 a because pathsfor the first cam teeth 52 a are opened by the opened portions 53 a. Atthis time, the second cam teeth 48 a are guided by the first cam teeth52 e and rotate by an amount corresponding to the above-described phasedifference between the locking portions 53 c and the first cam teeth 52a. Accordingly, when the fixed cam 51 moves rearward of the vehicletogether with the drive shoe 21, the paths for the first cam teeth 52 a(the paths for retracting from the first cam teeth 52 a) are closed bythe locking portions 53 c.

Therefore, when the fixed cam 51 moves rearward of the vehicle togetherwith the drive shoe 21 so as to cause the movable panel 12 to perform arearward sliding motion (that is, an opening operation), the second camteeth 48 a are locked by the locking portions 53 c while being guided tobe rotated by the locking portions 53 c as illustrated in FIG. 5. By theengagement between the rotating cam 48 and the fixed cam 51 in thismanner, the slide check 41 moves integrally rearward of the vehicle. Thesupporting bracket 31 coupled to the slide check 41 via the locking pin35 also moves integrally rearward of the vehicle. The rotating cam 48and the fixed cam 51 constitute an engagement and disengagementswitching mechanism 50.

Here, the operation of the embodiment disclosed here will be described.

First of all, the movable panel 12 is assumed to be in the fully-closedstate. At this time, the rotation check 46 is locked so as not to rotateby the first projecting portion 26 a or the like in a state in which theengaging projection 46 a is locked into the engaging groove 19 a of thecheck block 19. Accordingly, the movement of the rotation check 46 inthe fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle is locked and the movement ofthe slide check 41 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle islocked together with the rotation check 46. Since the movement of thesupporting bracket 31 coupled to the slide check 41 via the allowinghole 44 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle is also locked, themovable panel 12 is only allowed to perform the tilt-up motion in whichthe rear portion moves upward about a supporting point at the frontportion of the supporting bracket 31.

When the drive shoe 21 moves forward of the vehicle in this state, thelocking pin 35 runs freely in the allowing hole 44 so as to move upwardalong the allowing hole 44 of the slide check 41, and the elevatingguide pin 34 guided by the guide groove 30 moves up along the firstinclined portion 30 a and reaches the straight line portion 30 b.Accordingly, the supporting bracket 31 (the elevating guide pin 34)moves upward with respect to the drive shoe 21, and hence the movablepanel 12 is transferred to the first tilt-up state.

In the fully-closed state of the movable panel 12, the holding pin 62 ofthe supporting bracket 31 is locked into the holding groove 61 of theslide check 41. The holding pin 62 does not hinder the transfer of themovable panel 12 to the first tilt-up state (the tilt-up motion) even bycoming apart from the holding groove 61 in association with the movementof the drive shoe 21 forward of the vehicle.

As described already, at the position of the drive shoe 21 whichcorresponds to the case where the movable panel 12 is transferred atleast from the fully-closed state to the first tilt-up state, therotating cam 48 and the fixed cam 51 of the engagement and disengagementswitching mechanism 50 are apart from each other in the fore-and-aftdirection of the vehicle. Therefore, when the drive shoe 21 movesrearward of the vehicle in the first tilt-up state of the movable panel12, the locking pin 35 runs freely in the allowing hole 44 no as to movedownward along the allowing hole 44 of the slide check 41, and theelevating guide pin 34 guided by the guide groove 30 slides down on thefirst inclined portion 30 a and reaches a terminal end of the firstinclined portion 30 a. Accordingly, the supporting bracket 31 (theelevating guide pin 34) moves downward with respect to the drive shoe21, and hence the movable panel 12 performs the tilt-down motion inwhich the rear portion moves downward about a supporting point at thefront portion of the supporting bracket 31 and is transferred to thefully-closed state. In other words, the movable panel 12 performs onlythe tilting motion in association with the fore-and-aft movement of thedrive shoe 21 as long as being translated between the fully-closed stateand the first tilt-up state.

In contrast, when the drive shoe 21 moves further forward of the vehiclein the first tilt-up state of the movable panel 12, the locking pin 35runs freely in the allowing hole 44 so as to move further upward alongthe allowing hole 44 of the slide check 41, and the elevating guide pin34 guided by the guide groove 30 moves up along the second inclinedportion 30 c and reaches a terminal end thereof. Accordingly, thesupporting bracket 31 (the elevating guide pin 34) moves further upwardwith respect to the drive shoe 21, and hence the movable panel 12 istransferred to the second tilt-up state. The rotation check 46 in whichthe first projecting portion 26 a passes through the pressed portion 46b thereof in association with the movement of the drive shoe 21 forwardof the vehicle is allowed to rotate in the gap 27.

At this time, the rotating cam 48 and the fixed cam 51 of the engagementand disengagement switching mechanism 50 are overlapped at the positionin the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. Therefore, the second camteeth 48 a of the rotating cam 48 pass through the opened portions 53 aand are pressed by the first cam teeth 52 a because paths for the firstcam teeth 52 a are opened by the opened portions 53 a. The second camteeth 48 a are guided by the first cam teeth 52 a, and rotate by anamount corresponding to the above-described phase difference between thelocking portions 53 c and the first cam teeth 52 a.

Subsequently, when the drive shoe 21 moves rearward of the vehicle, thesecond cam teeth 48 a of the rotating cam 48 is locked by the lockingportions 53 c while being guided to be rotated by the locking portions53 c of the second fixed-side member 53. By the engagement between therotating cam 48 and the fixed cam 51 in this manner, the rotation check46 and the slide check 41 try to move integrally rearward of thevehicle.

At this time, the rotation check 46 allowed to rotate in the gap 27rotates so that the engaging projection 46 a enters a position below thefirst guide portion 17 by the engaging projection 46 a being guided intothe engaging groove 19 a. The rotation check 46 is locked so as not torotate in this state. Accordingly, the movement lock of the slide check41 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle is released and themovement of the supporting bracket 31 coupled to the slide check 41 viathe allowing hole 44 or the like in the fore-and-aft direction of thevehicle is also released. At the same time, the pressed portion 46 bpasses through the position of the first projecting portion 26 a and isarranged inside of the first projecting portion 26 a in the vehiclewidth direction, and is arranged on the movement locus of therestricting portion 28 of the drive shoe 21 in the fore-and-aftdirection of the vehicle.

Therefore, when the drive shoe 21 moves rearward of the vehicle, therotation check 46 and the slide check 41 move integrally with the fixedcam 51 rearward of the vehicle. At this time, the distance between therotation check 46 (the slide check 41) and the fixed cam 51 ismaintained constantly in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, sothat the distance between the drive shoe 21 and the supporting bracket31 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle is also maintainedconstantly. Therefore, the movable panel 12 supported by the supportingbracket 31 moves rearward of the vehicle in the second tilt-up state,and opens the roof opening 10 a. Accordingly, the movable panel 12 isbrought into the opened state.

In the opened state of the movable panel 12, the rotation check 46 islocked so as not to rotate in a state in which the engaging projection46 a enters the portion below the first guide portion 17 as describedabove. At this time, the pressed portion 46 b is arranged on themovement locus of the restricting portion 28 in the fore-and-aftdirection of the vehicle. Therefore, when the drive shoe 21 movesforward of the vehicle in this state, the restricting portion 28 pressesthe pressed portion 46 b, so that the slide check 41 moves forward ofthe vehicle integrally with the rotation check 46. It is for arrangingthe second cam teeth 48 a of the rotating cam 48 and the first cam teeth52 a of the first fixed-side member 52 apart from each other in thefore-and-aft direction of the vehicle when the drive shoe 21 movesforward of the vehicle in the opened state of the movable panel 12 toavoid the first cam teeth 52 a from pressing the second cam teeth 48 a.In this case as well, the distance between the slide check 41 and thefixed cam 51 is maintained constantly in the fore-and-aft direction ofthe vehicle, so that the distance between the drive shoe 21 and thesupporting bracket 31 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle isalso maintained constantly. Therefore, the movable panel 12 supported bythe supporting bracket 31 moves forward of the vehicle in the secondtilt-up state, and closes the roof opening 10 a.

In association with the closing operation of the movable panel 12, whenthe movable panel 12 moves toward the state close to an initial state inwhich the movable panel 12 is transferred to the tilt-up state, therotation check 46 is allowed to rotate in the gap 27 by the firstprojecting portion 26 a passing through the pressed portion 46 b.Therefore, the rotation check 46 rotates so that the engaging projection46 a enters an upper end of the engaging groove 19 a by the engagingprojection 46 a being guided into the engaging groove 19 a. The rotationcheck 46 is locked so as not to rotate in this state. Accordingly, themovement of the slide check 41 in the fore-and-aft direction of thevehicle is locked and the movement of the supporting bracket 31 coupledto the slide check 41 via the allowing hole 44 or the like in thefore-and-aft direction of the vehicle is also locked. At the same time,the pressed portion 46 b passes through the position of the firstprojecting portion 26 a and is arranged outside of the first projectingportion 26 a in the vehicle width direction, and is swerved from themovement locus of the restricting portion 28 in the fore-and-aftdirection of the vehicle.

Accordingly, the first cam teeth 52 a press the second cam teeth 48 a,and hence the second cam teeth 48 a are guided by the first cam teeth 52a, and rotates by an amount corresponding to the phase differencebetween the locking portions 53 c and the first cam teeth 52 a.Accordingly, when the fixed cam 51 moves rearward of the vehicletogether with the drive shoe 21 subsequently, the second cam teeth 48 aare guided to be rotated by the guide portion 53 b and the path to thefirst cam teeth 52 a (the path for retracting from the first cam teeth52 a) is opened by the opened portions 53 a. Therefore, the rotating cam48 releases the engagement with the second fixed-side member 53 (thefixed cam 51) while allowing the second cam teeth 48 a to pass throughthe opened portions 53 a. Then, the fixed cam 51 moves rearward of thevehicle together with the drive shoe 21 while leaving the rotating cam48 and the like.

At this time, when the locking pin 35 runs freely in the allowing hole44 as moving downward along the allowing hole 44 of the slide check 41,and the elevating guide pin 34 is guided along the guide groove 30 so asto move downward, and hence the movable panel 12 performs the tilt-downmotion and is transferred to the fully-closed state via the firsttilt-up state.

When the movable panel 12 is transferred to the fully-closed state whileperforming the tilt-down motion, the holding pin 62 of the supportingbracket 31 moves gradually downward. In contrast, the holding groove 61of the drive shoe 21 moves gradually rearward of the vehicle, whichcorresponds to the direction of opening thereof. Therefore, the holdinggroove 61 guides the holding pin 62 moving downward in the guidingportion 61 a in association with the movement thereof rearward of thevehicle, so that the holding pin 62 is locked in so as to introduce themovable panel 12 into the fully-closed state.

As described above in detail, the following advantages are achievedaccording to this embodiment.

(1) According to the embodiment, when the drive shoe 21 moves furtherforward of the vehicle and then moves rearward of the vehicle in thefirst tilt-up state, the second tilt-up state is maintained and themovement lock of the movable panel 12 is released by the check mechanism40. In contrast, the fixed cam 51 of the engagement and disengagementswitching mechanism 50 presses the rotating cam 48, and hence the fixedcam 51 and the rotating cam 48 are engaged so that the movable panel 12moves integrally when the drive shoe 21 moves rearward of the vehiclethereafter. Therefore, the movable panel 12 moves rearward of thevehicle integrally with the drive shoe 21, and hence is opened whilebeing maintained in the second tilt-up state. In this case, the maximumamount of movement of the drive shoe 21 or the like which defines thefully-opened state of the movable panel 12 is not limited by the amountof movement of the drive shoe 21 in the direction opposite from thedirection of the movable panel 12 (forward of the vehicle) when beingbrought into the tilt-up state. Therefore, the maximum amount ofmovement of the drive shoe 21 or the like which defines the fully-openedstate of the movable panel 12, that is, the amount of opening of themovable panel 12 may be increased.

(2) According to the embodiment, the movement lock-and-unlock of themovable panel 12 by the check mechanism 40 is switched by engagement anddisengagement between the engaging projection 46 a and the engaginggroove 19 a in association with the rotation of the rotation check 46about the axial line extending in the fore-and-aft direction of thevehicle. In contrast, the engagement between the fixed cam 51 of theengagement and disengagement switching mechanism 50 and the rotating cam48 is realized by the movement of the drive shoe 21 further forward ofthe vehicle in the first tilt-up state, that is, by the movement alongthe axial line. Therefore, the movement lock-and-unlock of the movablepanel 12 by the check mechanism 40 and the engagement between the fixedcam 51 of the engagement and disengagement switching mechanism 50 andthe rotating cam 48 may be realized in conjunction with the movement ofthe drive shoe 21 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle along thedirection of movement of the drive shoe 21. Therefore, for example, bycoupling the rotation check 46 to the rotating cam 48 and intensivelyarranging the rotating cam 48 and the rotation check 46, an apparatusreduced in size as a whole is achieved.

(3) According to the embodiment, the second cam teeth 48 a pass theopened portions 53 a and are pressed by the first cam teeth 52 a whenthe drive shoe 21 moves further forward of the vehicle in the firsttilt-up state, and the drive shoe 21 is pressed by the locking portions53 c when the drive shoe 21 moves rearward of the vehicle thereafter, sothat the second cam teeth 48 a rotate by the predetermined angle (90°)and locked by the locking portions 53 c. In this manner, by theengagement between the fixed cam 51 and the rotating cam 48 caused bythe locking between the locking portions 53 c and the second cam teeth48 a, the movable panel 12 moves integrally with the drive shoe 21moving rearward of the vehicle. Therefore, the engagement anddisengagement switching mechanism 50 may bring the fixed cam 51 and therotating cam 48 into engagement in a very simple structure such thatsecond cam teeth 48 a passed through the opened portions 53 a arepressed by the first cam teeth 52 a and the locking portions 53 c insequence to cause the same to rotate the predetermined angle.

(4) According to the embodiment, when the drive shoe 21 moves forward ofthe vehicle in the state in which the movable panel 12 is opened, thesecond tilt-up state is maintained in a state in which the movement lockof the movable panel 12 is released until the initial restored state inwhich the movable panel 12 is transferred from the fully-closed state tothe first tilt-up state by the check mechanism 40. Then, the pressedportion 46 b of the rotation check 46 is pressed by the restrictingportion 28, the movable panel 12 moves forward of the vehicle integrallywith the drive shoe 21, and is closed still in the second tilt-up state.In this case, the pressing of the second cam teeth 48 a by the first camteeth 52 a is restricted by the pressing toward the movable panel 12(the pressed portion 46 b) by the restricting portion 28, and hence themotion of the engagement and disengagement switching mechanism 50 may beavoided from becoming unstable due to the rotation of the second camteeth 48 a, for example.

Subsequently, when the movable panel 12 becomes the restored state, themovement of the movable panel 12 is locked when the drive shoe 21 movesfurther forward of the vehicle, and maintenance in the second tilt-upstate is released by the check mechanism 40. In contrast, the second camteeth 48 a are pressed by the first cam teeth 52 a when the drive shoe21 moves further forward of the vehicle in the restored state, and thedrive shoe 21 is guided to the opened portions 53 a when the drive shoe21 moves rearward of the vehicle thereafter, so that the second camteeth 48 a rotate by the predetermined angle (90°) and pass through theopened portions 53 a. In this manner, by the disengagement of the fixedcam 51 from the rotating cam 48, the drive shoe 21 moves rearward of thevehicle while leaving the movable panel 12. Therefore, the engagementand disengagement switching mechanism 50 may release the engagementbetween the fixed cam 51 and the rotating cam 48 in a very simplestructure such that the second cam teeth 48 a are pressed by the firstcam teeth 52 a and guided by the opened portions 53 a (the guide portion53 b) to cause the same to rotate by the predetermined angle.

Then, the rear portion of the movable panel 12 moves downward about asupporting point at the front portion thereof in association with themovement of the drive shoe 21 rearward of the vehicle and hence thefully-closed state is achieved. In this case, since a sufficient amountof movement of the drive shoe 21 when moving the movable panel 12 fromthe tilt-up state to the fully-closed state may be secured, the load(motor output) per unit amount of movement of the drive shoe 21 may bereduced, and hence the increase in size of the electric power source maybe avoided.

Specifically, when a function to determine that something is caught byin the movable panel 12 when the variability of rotating speed of themotor exceeds a predetermined threshold value (hereinafter, referred toalso as “reverse rotation load”) in association with the opening andclosing operation of the movable panel 12 and reverse the movement ofthe movable panel 12 is provided, the reverse rotation load may bereduced by the small variability of the rotation speed during the normaloperation. In other words, even though the reverse rotation load isreduced, the probability of erroneous determination as the something iscaught thereby by the above-described function may be reduced. In thiscase, there is a probability of satisfying 100N or lower under EuropeanRegulation, for example, and there is a probability of achievement ofautomatic closure of the movable panel 12.

(5) According to the embodiment, by the second cam teeth 48 a (therotating cam 48) being coupled to the slide check 41 of the checkmechanism 40 so as to be rotatable, the second cam teeth 48 a (therotating cam 48) may be intensively arranged on the check mechanism 40,and hence an apparatus reduced in size as a whole is achieved.Specifically, by the coaxial arrangement of the rotation check 46 andthe second cam teeth 48 a, further reduction in size is achieved.

(6) According to the embodiment, the maximum amount of movement of thedrive shoe 21 or the like which defines the tilt-up state of the movablepanel 12 is not limited by the amount of movement of the drive shoe 21in the direction opposite from the direction (rearward of the vehicle)of the movable panel 12 when being brought into the opened state.Therefore, the maximum amount of movement of the drive shoe 21 or thelike which defines the tilt-up state of the movable panel 12, that is,the amount of opening of the movable panel 12 in the tilt-up state maybe increased.

(7) According to the embodiment, when the movable panel 12 istransferred from the first tilt-up state to the fully-closed state, theholding pin 62 is locked in the holding groove 61 so as to introduce themovable panel 12 into the fully-closed state. Therefore, even when themovable panel 12 (the supporting bracket 31) flip-flops by the influenceof air resistance when the movable panel 12 is transferred from thefirst tilt-up state to the fully-closed state at the time of high-speedtraveling of the vehicle, for example, the movable panel 12 may beintroduced into the fully-closed state smoothly by the holding pin 62locked in the holding groove 61. In the fully-closed state of themovable panel 12, the fully-closed state may be maintained more robustlyby the holding pin 62 locked in the holding groove 61.

(8) According to the embodiment, when the movable panel 12 is in thefully-closed state, the movable panel 12 is transferred to the tilt-upstate by moving the drive shoe 21 forward of the vehicle. In otherwords, in the fully-closed state of the movable panel 12, the drive shoe21 is arranged rather on the back side assuming the movement thereof inthe direction forward of the vehicle. Therefore, the holding groove 61relating to the maintenance of the fully-closed state may be provided onthe drive shoe 21 without extending the drive shoe 21 significantlyrearward of the vehicle.

(9) According to the embodiment, the holding groove 61 configured tointroduce the movable panel 12 into the fully-closed state is providedintegrally with the drive shoe 21, so that the number of components maybe reduced in comparison with a case of introducing the movable panel 12into the fully-closed state by a specific component (such as a rearlink), for example.

(10) According to the embodiment, the holding pin 62 is guided by theholding groove 61 opening in the direction of movement of the drive shoe21 (rearward of the vehicle) when the movable panel 12 is transferredfrom the first tilt-up state to the fully-closed state, and hence themovable panel 12 may be introduced into the fully-closed state furthersmoothly.

The embodiment described above may be modified as follows.

In the embodiment described above, the straight line portion 30 b of theguide groove 30 may be eliminated.

In the embodiment described above, the movement lock-and-unlock of themovable panel 12 by the check mechanism 40 is switched by engagement anddisengagement between the engaging projection 46 a and the engaginggroove 19 a in association with the rotation of the rotation check 46.In contrast, the check mechanism configured to switch the movementlock-and-unlock of the movable panel 12 by moving the check in thevertical direction of the vehicle or in the vehicle width direction mayalso be employed as long as the check mechanism realizes the movementlock-and-unlock of the movable panel 12 by, for example, electricalcontrol or the like. In other words, the arrangement and the structureof the check mechanism are arbitrary.

in the embodiment described above, the slide check 41, the rotationcheck 46, and the rotating cam 48 are integrally coupled. However, theslide check 41, the rotation check 46, and the rotating cam 48 may becoupled to a peripheral edge portion of the movable panel 12individually.

In the embodiment described above, the rotation check 46 and theengagement and disengagement switching mechanism 50 (the rotating cam 48and the fixed cam 51) are coaxially arranged. However, the axial linesthereof may be different from each other as long as the axial linesextend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

In the embodiment described above, when the movable panel 12 is operatedfrom the opened state to the closed state, the pressed portion 46 b ofthe rotation check 46 is pressed by the restricting portion 28. However,a configuration in which a suitable position of the movable panel 12 maybe pressed by the restricting portion 28 may also be employed as long asthis configuration does not hinder the function thereof.

In the embodiment described above, two stages including the firsttilt-up state and the second tilt-up state which is a state of beingtilted up more than the first tilt-up state are employed as the tilt-upstates of the movable panel 12. In contrast, a posture of the initialtilt-up state taken when the movable panel 12 is transferred from thefully-closed state and a posture of the tilt-up state taken when themovable panel 12 performs the sliding motion may be the same.

In the embodiment described above, a linked mode of the drive shoe 21and the supporting bracket 31 (the movable panel 12) is only an example.For example, a configuration in which a guide groove directed in thedirection opposite to the direction of the guide groove 30 is formed onthe supporting bracket 31 (the vertical wall portion 32), and anelevating guide pin fitted into the guide groove so as to be movable issecured to the drive shoe 21 is also applicable.

In the embodiment described above, the holding groove 61 and the holdingpin 62 are arranged on the drive shoe 21 and the supporting bracket 31.However, the relationship of arrangement may be vice versa.

In the embodiment described above, the check block 19 may be providedintegrally with the guide rail 14.

In the embodiment described above, the fixed cam 51 and the rotating cam48 are disposed on the drive shoe 21 and the supporting bracket 31 (anedge portion of the movable panel 12 in the vehicle width direction).However, the relationship of arrangement may be vice versa.

Subsequently, the technical idea understood from the embodiment andother examples described above will be added below.

(i) In the vehicle sun roof apparatus according to a third or fourthaspect,

the check mechanism includes:

a second sliding member provided so as to be movable along the guiderail and coupled to an edge portion of the movable panel in the vehiclewidth direction so that the transfer of the movable panel to the tilt-upstate is allowed when the sliding member moves forward of the vehicle inthe fully-closed state, and

the second cam teeth are coupled to the second sliding member so as tobe rotatable about the second axial line. In this configuration, thesecond cam teeth is rotatably coupled to the second sliding member ofthe check mechanism, so that the second cam teeth (the second member)may be intensively arranged on the check mechanism and hence anapparatus reduced in size as a whole is achieved. Specifically, byapplying this configuration to the configuration described in the secondaspect of the embodiment, an advantageous effect that the apparatus isfurther reduced in size as a whole is also achieved. In this case, it isfurther effective when the rotation check and the second cam teeth (theaxial line and the second axial line) are arranged coaxially.

Further, aspects of this disclosure are respectively described below.

According to a first aspect of this disclosure, there is provided avehicle sun roof apparatus including: a movable panel configured to openand close an opening section formed in a roof portion of a vehicle; aguide rail provided at an edge portion of the opening section in thevehicle width direction and extending in the fore-and-aft direction ofthe vehicle; a sliding member linked to an edge portion of the movablepanel in the vehicle width direction, provided along the guide rail soas to be movable in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, anddriven to be moved by an electric drive source; a check mechanismconfigured to release a movement lock of the movable panel by lockingthe movement of the movable panel and transferring the movable panel toa tilt-up state by moving a rear portion upward about a supporting pointat a front portion when the sliding member moves forward of the vehiclein a fully-closed state of the movable panel, and holding the tilt-upstate when the sliding member moves further forward of the vehicle andthen moves rearward of the vehicle in the tilt-up state; and anengagement and disengagement switching mechanism provided with a firstmember supported by either the sliding member or the edge portion of themovable panel in the vehicle width direction, and a second membersupported by the other one of the sliding member and the edge portion ofthe movable panel in the vehicle width direction, and configured toengage the first member and the second member by pressing either one ofthe first member and the second member by the other one of the firstmember and the second member by the movement of the sliding memberfurther forward of the vehicle in the tilt-up state so that the movablepanel moves integrally when the sliding member moves rearward of thevehicle thereafter.

In this configuration, when the sliding member moves further forward ofthe vehicle and then moves rearward of the vehicle in the tilt-up state,the tilt-up state is maintained and the movement lock of the movablepanel is released by the check mechanism. In contrast, either the firstmember or the second member of the engagement and disengagementswitching mechanism presses the other one of the first member and thesecond member, whereby the first member and the second member areengaged so that the movable panel moves integrally when the slidingmember moves rearward of the vehicle thereafter. Therefore, the movablepanel moves rearward of the vehicle integrally with the sliding member,and hence is opened while being maintained in the tilt-up state. In thiscase, the maximum amount of movement of the sliding member or the likewhich defines the fully-opened state of the movable panel is not limitedby the amount of movement of the sliding member in the directionopposite from the direction of the movable panel when being brought intothe tilt-up state (forward of the vehicle). Therefore, the maximumamount of movement of the sliding member or the like which defines thefully-opened state of the movable panel, that is, the amount of openingof the movable panel may be increased.

According to a second aspect of this disclosure, in the vehicle sun roofapparatus, the check mechanism includes a rotation check so as to berotatable, which is a position of the movement lock of the movable panelwhen transferring the movable panel from the fully-closed state to thetilt-up state; and the rotation check having an engaging groove or anengaging projection, which is connect with the edge portion of themovable panel in the vehicle width direction, and transferring torelease the movement lock of the movable panel by a rotation of therotational check by one of the engaging groove and the engagingprojection presses the other one of the engaging groove and the engagingprojection.

In this configuration, the movement lock-and-unlock of the movable panelby the check mechanism and the engagement between the first member andthe second member of the engagement and disengagement switchingmechanism may be realized in conjunction with the movement of thesliding member in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle along thedirection of movement of the sliding member. Therefore, an apparatusreduced in size as a whole is achieved.

According to a third aspect of this disclosure, in the vehicle sun roofapparatus, the check mechanism includes:

a check block including an engaging groove and provided on the guiderail; and a rotation check having an engaging projection capable ofbeing locked into the engaging groove and coupled to the edge portion ofthe movable panel in the vehicle width direction so as to be rotatableabout an axial line extending in the fore-and-aft direction of thevehicle, configured to be locked so as not to rotate in a state in whichthe engaging projection is locked into the engaging groove in thefully-closed state to lock the movement of the movable panel when thesliding member moves forward of the vehicle, be guided to rotate aboutthe axial line when the sliding member further moves forward of thevehicle in the tilt-up state and to disengage the engaging projectionfrom the engaging groove when the sliding member moves rearward of thevehicle thereafter to disengage the movement lock of the movable panel.

In this configuration, the movement lock-and-unlock of the movable panelby the check mechanism is switched by engagement and disengagementbetween the engaging projection and the engaging groove in associationwith the rotation of the rotation check about the axial line extendingin the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. In contrast, theengagement between the first member and the second member of theengagement and disengagement switching mechanism is realized by themovement of the sliding member further forward of the vehicle in thetilt-up state, that is, by the movement along the axial line. Therefore,the movement lock-and-unlock of the movable panel by the check mechanismand the engagement between the first member and the second member of theengagement and disengagement switching mechanism may be realized inconjunction with the movement of the sliding member in the fore-and-aftdirection of the vehicle along the direction of movement of the slidingmember. Therefore, for example, by coupling the rotation check to thesecond member and intensively arranging the second member and therotation check, an apparatus reduced in size as a whole is achieved.

According to a fourth aspect of this disclosure, in the vehicle sun roofapparatus, the first member includes: a first fixed-side member having aplurality of first cam teeth disposed about a second axial lineextending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle at everypredetermined angle and projecting and being depressed in the directionof the second axial line; and a second fixed-side member arranged on thesecond member side of the first fixed-side member and including anopened portion configured to open a path to the first cam teeth at everypredetermined angle about the second axial line and a locking portionconfigured to close the path to the first cam teeth; and the secondmember is coupled so as to be rotatable about the second axial line, andincludes second cam teeth passing through the opening section when thesliding member moves further forward of the vehicle in the tilt-up stateand being pressed by the first cam teeth, and being pressed by theengaging portion when the sliding member moves rearward of the vehiclethereafter so as to rotate the predetermined angle and engage theengaging portion.

In this configuration, the second cam teeth pass through the openedportion when the sliding member moves further forward of the vehicle inthe tilt-up state and are pressed by the first cam teeth, and arepressed by the engaging portion when the sliding member moves rearwardof the vehicle thereafter so as to rotate the predetermined angle andengage the engaging portion. In this manner, by the engagement betweenthe first member and the second member by the locking between thelocking portion and the second cam teeth, the movable panel movesintegrally with the sliding member moving rearward of the vehicle.Therefore, the engagement and disengagement switching mechanism maycause the first member to engage with the second member in a very simplestructure such that the second cam teeth passed through the openedportion is pressed by the first cam teeth and the locking portions insequence to cause the same to rotate the predetermined angle.

According to a fifth aspect of this disclosure, in the vehicle sun roofapparatus, the check mechanism is configured to maintain the tilt-upstate in a state in which the movement lock of the movable panel isreleased until the initial restored state in which the movable panel istransferred from the fully-closed state to the tilt-up state when thesliding member moves forward of the vehicle in a state in which themovable panel is opened, includes a restricting portion configured torestrict pressing of the second cam teeth by the first cam teeth untilthe restored state is achieved when the sliding member moves forward ofthe vehicle in the state in which the movable panel is opened, and thesecond cam teeth rotates by the predetermined angle and passes throughthe opened portion by being pressed by the first cam teeth when thesliding member moves further forward of the vehicle in the restoredstate and guided to the opened portion when the sliding member movesrearward of the vehicle thereafter.

In this configuration, when the sliding member moves forward of thevehicle in a state in which the movable panel is opened, the checkmechanism maintains the tilt-up state in a state in which the movementlock of the movable panel is released until the restored state isachieved. Therefore, the movable panel moves forward of the vehicleintegrally with the sliding member, and hence is closed while beingmaintained in the tilt-up state. In this case, the pressing of thesecond cam teeth by the first cam teeth is restricted by the restrictingportion, and hence the motion of the engagement and disengagementswitching mechanism may be avoided from becoming unstable due to therotation of the second cam teeth, for example.

Subsequently, when the movable panel becomes the restored state, themovement of the movable panel is locked, and maintenance in the secondtilt-up state is released by the check mechanism. The second cam teethrotate by the predetermined angle and pass through the opened portion bybeing pressed by the first cam teeth when the sliding member movesfurther forward of the vehicle in the restored state and guided to theopened portion when the sliding member moves rearward of the vehiclethereafter. In this manner, by the disengagement between the firstmember from the second member, the sliding member moves rearward of thevehicle while leaving the movable panel. Therefore, the engagement anddisengagement switching mechanism may disengage the first member fromthe second member in a very simple structure such that the second camteeth are pressed by the first cam teeth, guided by the opened portion,and rotated by the predetermined angle.

Then, the rear portion of the movable panel moves downward about asupporting point at the front portion thereof and becomes thefully-closed state in association with the movement of the slidingmember rearward of the vehicle. In this case, since a sufficient amountof movement of the sliding movement when moving the movable panel fromthe tilt-up state to the fully-closed state may be secured, the load perunit amount of movement of the sliding member may be reduced, and hencethe increase in size of the electric power source may be avoided.

According to the aspects of this disclosure, a vehicle sun roofapparatus capable of further increasing the amount of opening of amovable panel configured to perform an opening operation in a tilt-upstate may be provided.

The principles, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of thepresent invention have been described in the foregoing specification.However, the invention which is intended to be protected is not to beconstrued as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further,the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrativerather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others,and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all suchvariations, changes and equivalents which fall within the spirit andscope of the present invention as defined in the claims, be embracedthereby.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle sun roof apparatus comprising: amovable panel configured to open and close an opening section formed ina roof portion of a vehicle; a guide rail provided at an edge portion ofthe opening section in the vehicle width direction and extending in thefore-and-aft direction of the vehicle; a sliding member linked to anedge portion of the movable panel in the vehicle width direction,provided along the guide rail so as to be movable in the fore-and-aftdirection of the vehicle, and driven to be moved by an electric drivesource; a check mechanism configured to release a movement lock of themovable panel and transferring the movable panel to a tilt-up state bymoving a rear portion upward about a supporting point at a front portionof the movable panel when the sliding member moves forward of thevehicle in a fully-closed state of the movable panel, and maintainingthe tilt-up state when the sliding member moves further forward of thevehicle and then moves rearward of the vehicle in the tilt-up state; andan engagement and disengagement switching mechanism provided with afirst member and a second member, and configured to engage the firstmember and the second member by pressing so that the movable panel moveswhen the sliding member moves rearward of the vehicle thereafter;wherein the check mechanism includes: a check block including anengaging groove and being provided on the guide rail; and a rotationcheck having an engaging projection capable of being locked into theengaging groove and being coupled to the edge portion of the movablepanel in the vehicle width direction so as to be rotatable about anaxial line extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle,configured to be locked so as not to rotate in a state in which theengaging projection is locked into the engaging groove in thefully-closed state to lock the movement of the movable panel when thesliding member moves forward of the vehicle, be guided to rotate aboutthe axial line when the sliding member further moves forward of thevehicle in the tilt-up state and to release the engaging projection fromthe engaging groove when the sliding member moves rearward of thevehicle thereafter to disengage the movement lock of the movable panel.2. The vehicle sun roof apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thefirst member includes: a first fixed-side member having a plurality offirst cam teeth disposed about a second axial line extending in thefore-and-aft direction of the vehicle at every predetermined angle andprojecting and being depressed in the direction of the second axialline; and a second fixed-side member arranged on the second member sideof the first fixed-side member and including an opened portionconfigured to open a path to the first cam teeth at every predeterminedangle about the second axial line and a locking portion configured toclose the path to the first cam teeth; and the second member is coupledso as to be rotatable about the second axial line, and includes secondcam teeth passing through the opened portion when the sliding membermoves further forward of the vehicle in the tilt-up state and beingpressed by the first cam teeth, and being pressed by the engagingportion when the sliding member moves rearward of the vehicle thereafterso as to rotate the predetermined angle and engage the engaging portion.3. The vehicle sun roof apparatus according to claim 2, wherein thecheck mechanism is configured to maintain the tilt-up state in a statein which the movement lock of the movable panel is released until aninitial restored state in which the movable panel is transferred fromthe fully-closed state to the tilt-up state is achieved when the slidingmember moves forward of the vehicle in a state in which the movablepanel is opened, includes a restricting portion configured to restrictpressing of the second cam teeth by the first cam teeth until therestored state is achieved when the sliding member moves forward of thevehicle in the state in which the movable panel is opened, and thesecond cam teeth rotates by the predetermined angle and passes throughthe opened portion by being pressed by the first cam teeth when thesliding member moves further forward of the vehicle in the restoredstate and guided to the opened portion when the sliding member movesrearward of the vehicle thereafter.
 4. A vehicle sun roof apparatuscomprising: a movable panel configured to open and close an openingsection formed in a roof portion of a vehicle; a guide rail provided atan edge portion of the opening section in the vehicle width directionand extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle; a slidingmember linked to an edge portion of the movable panel in the vehiclewidth direction, provided along the guide rail so as to be movable inthe fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and driven to be moved by anelectric drive source; a check mechanism configured to release amovement lock of the movable panel and transferring the movable panel toa tilt-up state by moving a rear portion upward about a supporting pointat a front portion of the movable panel when the sliding member movesforward of the vehicle in a fully-closed state of the movable panel, andmaintaining the tilt-up state when the sliding member moves furtherforward of the vehicle and then moves rearward of the vehicle in thetilt-up state; and an engagement and disengagement switching mechanismprovided with a first member and a second member, and configured toengage the first member and the second member by pressing so that themovable panel moves when the sliding member moves rearward of thevehicle thereafter; wherein the check mechanism includes a secondsliding member provided so as to be movable along the guide rail andcoupled to the edge portion of the movable panel in the vehicle widthdirection so that the transfer of the movable panel to the tilt-up stateis allowed when the sliding member moves forward of the vehicle in thefully-closed state, and the second member is coupled to the secondsliding member so as to be rotatable about an axial line extending inthe fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle for switching of theengagement and disengagement switching mechanism.